Friday, 5 March 2010

A premier new sailing event gathering exclusively the Wally Class and bringing together world-class skippers in the exclusive venue of Portofino, Italy

Wally Class - Nespresso Cup. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget.

by Julie Royer

Nestlé Nespresso S.A., the worldwide pioneer and reference for highest quality premium portioned coffee, today announced the launch of the Nespresso Cup , a new international regatta gathering for the very first time exclusively the Wally Class. The announcement by Nespresso was made together with Luca Bassani Antivari, President and Founder of Wally, and with the presence of sailing legend Francesco de Angelis at the Yacht Club Italiano’s press conference which presented this season’s regattas.

“The Nespresso Cup celebrates the fusion of aesthetics and performance to deliver the most beautiful sailing regatta” said Richard Girardot, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Nespresso S.A. “Inspired by the same passion, Nespresso and Wally share a common philosophy of creative innovation, highest execution on quality, cutting-edge design and technology, delivering elegant but functional solutions.”

The Nespresso Cup, set against the enchanting backdrop of Portofino, Italy, promises to bring a new dimension to the beauty of sailing. Portofino’s vibrant waterfront offers an exceptional venue in terms of beauty and atmosphere, in the purest Italian tradition. From the 7th to 9th May 2010, this beautiful harbour will be home to the participating Wally yachts. Their unmistakable streamlined shapes, their exclusive blend of classic elegance and sheer power make Wally a breed apart on the international sailing scene.

“Beauty, lifestyle, respect for the environment, friendship, quality: these values reflect the soul of Portofino, as well that of Wally,” said Luca Bassani Antivari, President and Founder of Wally. “The common vision and pioneering spirit we share with Nespresso convinced us to organise the first ever event exclusively for the Wally Class. Competition and Corinthian spirit will drive the Nespresso Cup that gathers the world’s largest fleet of performance super yachts, sailing together at the highest level of technology and racing skills.”

For three days, with two races scheduled per day, a total of 15 Wally yachts will battle it out on windward-leeward courses set up in front of Portofino.

During this ultimate three day event, Nespresso is delighted to welcome, as ambassadors of the first edition of the Nespresso Cup, an extraordinary group of sailing legends. Among the prestigious line-up, and fresh from Valencia, French offshore racing icon Loïck Peyron will be competing on the blue waters of Portofino. Peyron commented: "I've always found Wally Yachts very seductive, and am looking forward to finally experiencing them first hand on the race course during the Nespresso Cup. The spectacular venue of Portofino will be the perfect location for such an event."

Grand Prix sailing legends Paul Cayard (USA) and Francesco de Angelis (ITA) will also be racing in Portofino. These two sailors have had a few high-profile battles at the highest level in the past and together have won the 1995 Admiral’s Cup. Both are looking forward taking part in the Nespresso Cup. “It will be great to compete in the inaugural Nespresso Cup in Portofino. The venue is unique and it will be fantastic to see the harbour filled by big yachts like the Wallys,” said Francesco de Angelis. “The racing there is never easy and all the Class Divisions will be competitive given the high level of the Teams. Racing in Portofino is always a challenge and hopefully this event will become a classic."

The fusion of aesthetics, design and performance which underpins the Nespresso Cup is further enhanced by the design of the Cup’s trophy for which Nespresso partnered with industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. Nespresso and Konstantin Grcic share a passionate drive for continuous innovation and already have a history of collaboration together. Grcic’s design philosophy which revolves around continuously experimenting, reinventing and improving both aesthetics and function, combined with his passion for the sailing world promises to deliver an original take on the regatta’s trophy.

The Nespresso Cup will be hosted by the Yacht Club Italiano, which is also responsible for the race management of the event. The YCI was founded in 1879 and is one of the oldest Yacht Clubs in the Mediterranean. It runs the prestigious annual Giraglia Cup jointly with the Yacht Club de France and Société Nautique de Saint Tropez, and has been home to the Luna Rossa America’s Cup challenge, fronted by Francesco de Angelis.

Persistency and Determination...

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